Cancer is considered one of the leading causes of death among humans. People who suffer from cancer can be in a lot of pain and suffering because of its usually slow progression. A tumor can grow slowly over time without showing any symptoms or outward signs. Only when these tumors become malignant and break off will the noticeable symptoms start to appear. With most cancers remaining incurable, early detection and treatment is always important.

Most cancers do show certain warning signs early that people should try to heed. Unfortunately, it is common for many to simply ignore the warnings and fail to seek proper treatment. Identifying the early warning signs can help people survive the threat of cancer by battling the disease while it is still treatable. Here are some of the early warning signs to watch out for.

Unexplained Pain

Pain is an early symptom of a possible cancer, especially if it cannot be explained by other means. It can be a testicular or bone cancer. If it is a headache that does not seem to go away even after drinking an over-the-counter pain reliever, it may signal a possible brain cancer. If you have back pain that lingers, it may signal colon or ovarian cancer. Unexplained pain is a common early warning sign for different cancers. It may require immediate attention from your doctor.

Lumps

There are many types of cancers that come out as either a lump or thickening in various parts of the body. Cancers of the breast and of the testicles may cause the lymph nodes to swell and come out as lumps that people can feel through the skin. Lumps and thickening can either be an early or late sign of cancer. If you feel an unexpected lump or thickening in some parts of your body, you may need to have your doctor check it out.

Blood In Urine And Stool

Blood in the urine and stool can be a common symptom of other conditions that many people seem to ignore that it can also be a warning sign of cancer. Blood in the urine can be a sign of bladder cancer, a type of cancer that usually is not diagnosed until it reaches the incurable stage. That is why blood in urine may require immediate attention from your doctor.

Blood found in the stool is commonly associated with hemorrhoids rather than cancer. But it can be a warning sign of colon cancer, especially if it is accompanied with changes in your normal bowel habits. It is better to be safe than to be sorry to have your stool or urine checked further if you find blood on it.

Chronic Fatigue

If you start to feel fatigued for no reason at all, then it can be one of many conditions. It can be anemia, a sleep disorder, a heart problem, diabetes and other conditions. Chronic fatigue can also be a warning sign for a number of different cancers. It may possibly be leukemia and other cancers that can cause blood loss such as stomach or colon cancer.

Unexplained Weight Loss

While some people may like losing weight without the need to diet or exercise, it can be a sign of cancer if the weight loss cannot be explained. It may be because of cancer in the pancreas, lung, stomach, esophagus or the lungs. Have your doctor look into your weight loss to determine the underlying cause. It may also be caused by other conditions such as liver disease, depression, diabetes or an overactive thyroid.Health – GuideTo.Com